House body assesses security matters in Negros Occ

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Riding-in-tandems, possible resurgence of organized crime groups and recovery of high-powered firearms were among the security concerns in Negros Occidental tackled in Tuesday's public hearing at the Capitol building in this city by the House committee on public order and safety.

The hearing was conducted by committee chairman, Representative Jeffrey Ferrer (4th district, Negros Occidental), and members, Representatives Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd district, Pangasinan) and Gary Alejano of Magdalo partylist.

Also present were Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.; Chief Superintendent Josephus Angan, director of Police Regional Office-6; Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Senior Superintendent Pedrito Escarilla, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office.

Bataoil said the police briefed the House panel on the crime situation in the province and in Western Visayas.

"They reported favorable peace and order climate, in the absence of high-profile incidents," he told The Freeman although there were other concerns, including the recent confiscation of high-powered firearms from a Bacolod resident.

"This is alarming," Bataoil said, pointing out that it is not normal for one person to posses many high-powered firearms.

Last June 25, a total of 20 high-powered firearms, including 16 AK-47s, and various ammunitions were seized from the house of Eugene Gawat at the Santa Clara Subdivision in this city.

An investigation is now underway to see a possible link between Gawat and the missing 1,004 pieces of AK-47s that were in possession by security agencies in Mindanao, said Bataoil, adding that possible linkages with local and international gun-running syndicates were also being looked into.

When asked if the seized guns may be used for violence in the 2016 polls, Bataoil said: "It is a possible political violence. We hope for the best that it will not happen but we will be prepared for the worst that can happen."